Graduation

Preparing for Graduation

To graduate, all requirements in the following areas must be complete (Refer to your progress report on MyMap):

• University requirements
  
  • General Education 
  • Religious Education
  • 30 residency hours (credit hours taken at BYU)
  • 120 total credit hours
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA (your cumulative GPA and your BYU GPA must be at least 2.0)
• Requirements for your major (and for any minors or secondary majors, if applicable)

If you have any questions, please schedule an appointment with an academic advisor by requesting an appointment online, emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB.

Applying for Graduation

To graduate you must submit a graduation application. You MUST have a current ecclesiastical endorsement on file in order to apply.

For a current list of important graduation deadlines, dates, and information about graduation ceremonies please visit BYU Graduation Dates and Deadlines.

Graduation Application Deadlines

April Graduation—15 November
June Graduation—15 February
August Graduation—15 February
December Graduation—15 September

Please complete your graduation application for the semester or term when you will finish your coursework. All students graduating in December (Fall), April (Winter), June (Spring), and August (Summer) for a given academic year are welcome to participate in the university graduation ceremonies in April of each year.

After submitting your graduation application, you must schedule a graduation clearance meeting with an academic advisor to be approved. During this meeting, an advisor will review your progress report to ensure that all requirements have been met. Please set up your graduation clearance meeting prior to the add/drop deadline of your final semester.

Participating in Graduation Ceremonies

• Keep in mind that participating in a graduation ceremony does not mean you have graduated!
• You officially graduate once all your requirements have been completed and your degree has been posted.
• If you participate in convocation, you will receive an empty diploma cover. You will receive officially your diploma in the mail once your requirements have been verified.

University Commencement is held once a year, in April. All graduates of the university are invited to attend commencement. Commencement begins with a processional, during which graduates march into the Marriott Center in cap and gown. Graduates and guests are addressed by a prominent keynote speaker during these exercises. Students’ names are not read during commencement. Tickets may be required for your guests to attend commencement. Learn more about commencement here.

Learn how to get your Cap and Gown here.

Kennedy Center Convocation 

The Kennedy Center holds Convocation once a year, in April. Convocation exercises are run by individual colleges across campus. During convocation, students’ names are read and graduates receive an empty diploma cover. Diplomas are mailed to graduates 6–8 weeks after their official graduation date from the university (after the semester or term that you applied to graduate).

Students wishing to participate in the Kennedy Center Convocation must complete an RSVP request. The RSVP will be sent to your email during winter semester if you have already applied for graduation. If you completed your graduation application and did not receive an RSVP email, please contact the Advisement Center by emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB. *You will periodically receive emails with important information about graduation. Please make sure your email address listed for BYU is updated or you will not receive that information.

If you wish to have a spouse for immediate family member participate with you in the Kennedy Center ceremony, please indicate so in your RSVP. If you want to walk in convocation exercises in another college, contact that college’s advisement center to make arrangements.

If you need to change your graduation date, once you have already completed the graduation clearance meeting, please meet with an academic advisor by requesting an appointment online, emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB.

Graduation FAQs

Can I walk in a ceremony if I am not graduating at that time?

Yes, remember that walking in a ceremony does not mean you have graduated. Since the University only holds graduation ceremonies once a year (in April) all students graduating the previous semester (December–Fall), that semester (April–Winter), or in the future terms (June–Spring or August–Summer) are invited to participate in April’s ceremonies. For questions about when would be the best time for you to walk please contact the Advisement Center by emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB.

Can my spouse or sibling walk with me in the ceremony?

Yes, immediate family members are invited to walk with Kennedy Center graduates. Just make sure and include their information in your RSVP response. If you have questions, please contact the Advisement Center by emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB.

I need to move my graduation to another date. Can I do that?

It depends; you will need to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. You may do this by requesting an appointment online, emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB.

I missed the graduation application deadline. May I still apply?

Though applying by the deadline will make things easier for everyone, the answer is usually yes. However, the closer it gets to graduation, the less likely we will be able to accept your application past the deadline. Complete the graduation application for whatever application date is available and then schedule an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to see if your date can be moved back to the one you want. Please remember that you have to have an active ecclesiastical endorsement that is good for the graduation date you are applying for. Please schedule an appointment with an academic advisor by requesting an appointment online, emailing kennedy_advisement@byu.edu, calling (801) 422-3548, or visiting 273 HRCB.

What information is on the diploma?

• The university’s name and location
• Student name (as specified on the graduation application)
• Degree: BA, BS, BM, BFA, MBA, MS, MA, PhD, JD, etc.
• Name of major
• Date the degree was awarded
• Signature of the president of the Board of Trustees and the BYU president
• University seal
• University Honors/Latin DistinctionWill

Will my double major or my minor show on my diploma?

No, only your primary major will appear, but both majors will be reflected on your official university transcript.

Answers to many other commonly asked questions may be found at the general Graduation FAQs page provided by the university.